"We'd been thinking about it for the last six months, retiring the business. Sales were down and Rau management approached us and we thought maybe this was the right time. We'll miss the customers and employees," said Mary Lynn Pearsall, who owns the store with her husband Jay.

Mary has worked there since 1974. The couple bought the store in 1990.

We asked Mary what kept this Bay City business running for 117 years. She told us it was the quality and personal service.

Right now, the R.J. Rau Management company out of Frankenmuth is going through and pricing all the merchandise, on behalf of Mary and Jay.

They'll be running the final sale.

In the coming days, they'll have special hours for old customers, who have been contacted.

The going-out-of-business and retirement sale will open to the public next Thursday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m.

The store will be open each day until everything is sold, and they want everyone to know, if you have something on order, they'll make sure you get it.

They aren't sure how long the going-out-of-business sale will take, but they suspect it'll be several weeks.

The store is located at 921 N. Johnston Street, Bay City. Their phone number is 989-892-5579.

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